Undergird Your Ship – Daily Devotion for December 7th

Undergird Your Ship

Daily Devotional for December 7th

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. Acts 27:16-17

As by now you can see, sailing has tremendous significance to our Christian experience. Undergirding the ship is no different. Undergirding can either be a proactive measure or a reactive one. According to Acts, these helps that were used to undergird the ship seemed to be reactive due to the words we had much work to come by the boat.

When there is a danger of the ship’s hull to break apart due to raging waves, striking reefs, or running aground, the sailors would use a ship’s rigging called helps. They were extremely valuable to keep the ship in one piece during storms. These helps were ropes and/or chains that were wrapped under the hull and secured tightly on each side of the deck so to add strength to the hull. This rigging is what would be considered emergency equipment. Are you prepared for hard times? Are there things the Holy Spirit has led you to in times past in order to strengthen you in the hard times?

In times of great peril at sea, there comes a point when the protection and security of the ship is essential for survival. We are very much the same. The Lord has placed helps in the body of Christ to so strengthen you in times of difficulty. The Holy Spirit has gifted many of you to post blogs for the strengthening of the body. Gospel music is also such an undergirding force in the body of Christ. When the strain of storms come, the first thing that seems to go is our faith. Faith is one of our greatest reenforcing undergirding ropes. Faith holds on to God’s promises through the hard times. Trusting in Jesus will keep you held together. The word of God also strenghtens us greatly. Don’t neglect these things for their value cannot be measured.

Undergirding the ship could not be seen because the ropes were under the surface. The same is true of you and I. When the world sees us, they can see that we do not sink during devastating times, but may not see the reason why we hold up in time of storm. We are helped today by Jesus Himself, by His Word, His Spirit and including the helps mentioned. When it comes to staying afloat, the underside of your ship is the most important part of your ship. The part of you that no one else sees; your inner man. Undergirding keeps the hull from opening up and water from getting inside. Satan wants the trouble happening around you to get inside you. He wants to sink you by getting into you. If we live our lives in such a way as to be able to hear the Holy Spirit speak to us, He will lead us to places where we will be strengthened so that no perils in the deep can tear our ship apart.